Gathering Leaves

Pre-nuptial agreement between Andreas DeBacker and the Mollaert family (pt 1) (1788)

This the first part of what appears to be a pre-nuptial agreement between Andreas DeBacker and the Mollaert family which says that in the event of Catherina Mollaert's death that Andreas DeBacker would not inherit her property. During this period (1780's) in Flanders, married women were allowed to keep their own property. Also young men usually tended to marry older women of means. Catherina was about 8 years older than Andreas DeBacker and apparently owned one or more windmills from which she gained income and her brother wanted to keep it in the family.